Comparison of Incremental Intermittent and Time Trial Testing in Age-Group Swimmers
Author(s)
Zacca, Rodrigo
Azevedo, Rui
Silveira, Ricardo Peterson
Vilas-Boas, Joao P
Pyne, David B
Castro, Flavio A de S
Fernandes, Ricardo J
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2019
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The
aim of this study was to compare physiological and biomechanical characteristics between an incremental intermittent test
and a time trial protocol in age-group swimmers. Eleven
national level age-group swimmers (6 men and 5 women) performed a 7 3 200-m incremental intermittent protocol (until
exhaustion; 30-second rest) and a 400-m test (T400) in front
crawl on separate days. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured continuously using a telemetric portable gas analyzer.
Swimming speed, stroke rate, stroke length, and stroke index
were assessed by video analysis. Physiological (oxygen uptake,
heart rate, and lactate ...
View more >The aim of this study was to compare physiological and biomechanical characteristics between an incremental intermittent test and a time trial protocol in age-group swimmers. Eleven national level age-group swimmers (6 men and 5 women) performed a 7 3 200-m incremental intermittent protocol (until exhaustion; 30-second rest) and a 400-m test (T400) in front crawl on separate days. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured continuously using a telemetric portable gas analyzer. Swimming speed, stroke rate, stroke length, and stroke index were assessed by video analysis. Physiological (oxygen uptake, heart rate, and lactate concentrations) and biomechanical variables between seventh 200-m step (in which the minimal swimming speed that elicits maximal oxygen uptake—vV_ O2max was identified) and T400 (time trial/fixed distance) were compared with a paired student’s t test, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland-Altman plot analyses. There were high level of agreement and high correlations (r-values ;0.90; p # 0.05) for all physiological variables between the seventh 200-m step and T400. Similarly, there were high level of agreements and high correlations (r-values ;0.90; p # 0.05) for all biomechanical variables and only trivial bias in swimming speed (0.03 m$s21; 2%). Primary physiological and biomechanical responses between incremental intermittent and representative time trial protocols were similar, but best practice dictates protocols should not be used interchangeably to minimize errors in prescribing swimming training speeds. The T400 is a valid, useful, and easier to administer test for aerobic power assessment in age-group swimmers.
View less >
View more >The aim of this study was to compare physiological and biomechanical characteristics between an incremental intermittent test and a time trial protocol in age-group swimmers. Eleven national level age-group swimmers (6 men and 5 women) performed a 7 3 200-m incremental intermittent protocol (until exhaustion; 30-second rest) and a 400-m test (T400) in front crawl on separate days. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured continuously using a telemetric portable gas analyzer. Swimming speed, stroke rate, stroke length, and stroke index were assessed by video analysis. Physiological (oxygen uptake, heart rate, and lactate concentrations) and biomechanical variables between seventh 200-m step (in which the minimal swimming speed that elicits maximal oxygen uptake—vV_ O2max was identified) and T400 (time trial/fixed distance) were compared with a paired student’s t test, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland-Altman plot analyses. There were high level of agreement and high correlations (r-values ;0.90; p # 0.05) for all physiological variables between the seventh 200-m step and T400. Similarly, there were high level of agreements and high correlations (r-values ;0.90; p # 0.05) for all biomechanical variables and only trivial bias in swimming speed (0.03 m$s21; 2%). Primary physiological and biomechanical responses between incremental intermittent and representative time trial protocols were similar, but best practice dictates protocols should not be used interchangeably to minimize errors in prescribing swimming training speeds. The T400 is a valid, useful, and easier to administer test for aerobic power assessment in age-group swimmers.
View less >
Journal Title
JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH
Volume
33
Issue
3
Subject
Sports science and exercise
Medical physiology